sonic studio mastering eq table of contents...learn: values can be entered by keyboard or by...
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Sonic Studio Mastering EQ Table of Contents
1.0 Sonic Studio Mastering EQ ................................................................ 3
1.1 SonicStudioMasteringEQAudioUnitsPlug-in................................................4
1.1.1 Overview..................................................................................................................................... 4
1.1.2 InstallationandOperation......................................................................................................... 4
1.1.2.1 FrequencyVisualizerScalingindB...............................................................................................................6
1.1.2.2 MasteringEQVisualizer.................................................................................................................................6
1.1.2.3 GainFader......................................................................................................................................................6
1.1.2.4 High-DefinitionMeters..................................................................................................................................6
1.1.2.5 PeakHoldSettings.........................................................................................................................................6
1.1.2.6 EqualizerBandswith17UniqueFilters........................................................................................................6
1.1.2.7 EQGlobalOn/Off............................................................................................................................................7
1.1.2.8 DitherSelectionArea.....................................................................................................................................7
1.1.2.9 EQBandOn/Off..............................................................................................................................................7
1.1.2.10 Hide/ShowFrequencyandMeters...............................................................................................................7
Appendix A Sonic Studio Mastering EQ Filter Specifications and Descriptions 8
Appendix B Sonic Studio Mastering EQ Dither Specifications and Descriptions 16
Appendix A iLok License Installation .................................................................. 17
PermanentLicenseInstallation.....................................................................................................17
TrialLicenseInstallation................................................................................................................17
Sonic Studio Mastering EQ Index ......................................................................... 19
©2006-2013SonicStudio,LLC—Allrightsreserved
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SonicStudio,SonicStudioMasteringEQ,soundBlade,SonicStudioEngine(SSE),NoNOISEII,ManualDeClickII,DeClick,DeCrackle,AType,BType,CType,DType,ETypeBroadbandDeNoiseIIandtheSonicStudiologoaretrademarksofSonicStudio,LLC.Allothercompanyorproductnamesareeithertrademarksorregisteredtrademarksoftheirrespectiveowners.
1.0 .............................................Sonic Studio Mastering EQ
ThankyouforpurchasingSonicStudioMasteringEQ™!You’vemadeanexcellentchoiceowingtothefactthatthefiltersandalgorithmsfeaturedinthisequalizerhavebeenusedoninnumerabletracks.It’sperfectforeverytypeofmusic-AmbienttoACappella,JazztoJive,SymphonytoSpokenWord,ZydecotoZeitGeist.Youmaynotbeawareofit,butyou’veheardthisEQbefore!
Sonic Studio Mastering EQ is a minimal-phase four band filterAudio Units™ plug-in. Eachbandoffersyourchoiceof17filtertypesortopologieswithsomebestusedforrestorationanddamagecontrolwhileotherareexcellentforchangingcolorortimbre.Itcanbeusedasamono,stereoormultichannelinstantiation.
ThisdocumentcoversSonicStudioMasteringEQ’suseinoursoundBladeproduct.However,sinceit’sanAudioUnitsplug-in,itwilloperateonanyaudiosoftwarethatsupportsAudioUnitsplug-ins,soalltheconceptsandattributesdescribedbelowwillapplyinotherapplications.
soundBlade TV: Viewthe‘SonicStudioMasteringEQ’tutorialbyclickingHERE.
The Sonic Studio Mastering EQ Overview Tutorial.
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1.1 SonicStudioMasteringEQAudioUnitsPlug-in
1.1.1 Overview
InthesoundBladeenvironment,SonicStudioMasteringEQcanbeinsertedasaplug-ininthreedifferentpointswithinthesignalflowofsoundBlade:
1. AsaDeskEvent.
2. IntheEDLDesk(mixerwindow).
3. IntheMeterswindow.
LEARN: soundBlade offer the option to add“Desk Events” or plug–ins to aProjectorbus.Whenplug–insare instantiatedinaProject, theyprovidetime–based,“snapshot automation.”Also in Projects, plug–ins are constant latencyandareseamlesslycross-faded,evenwithinanindividualsegment.Thismeanssettingschangesmoothly,freeofaudiblediscontinuities,evenforplug–inswithhighlatency.Allplug–ininstantiationsarefullylatencycompensated,unlesstheplug–initselfcannotordoesnotreportlatency.SeethesoundBladeHDorSEusermanualformoreonusingplug-insasDeskEvents.
LEARN: Toinsertaplug–inintooneoftheslots intheEDLDesk,simplyclickontheslotbuttonandadropdownmenuappears,showingallvalidplug–insavailable.Then,selectthedesiredplug–infromthelist.Theplug–inwillbeinsertedintheslotandtheselectedplug–inwillopenformanipulationofitsparameters.Theseinstantiationsaremono,andunlikeotherworkstations,usingplug-insintheEDLDeskisgenerallynotrecommended.UseDeskEventsinstead.SeethesoundBladeHDorSEusermanualformoreonusingtheEDLDesk.
LEARN:TheMeterswindowisagoodplacetousetruestereoplug-ins.Whenaplug-inisinsertedintheMeterssection,thatplug-inisappliedtoallaudiothatisroutedoutthatbus.SeethesoundBladeHDorSEusermanualformoreonusingplug-insintheMeterssection.
1.1.2 InstallationandOperation
ToinstallSonicStudioMasteringEQ,double-clickonthe‘SonicMasteringEQ_Installer.pkg’andfollowtheon-screeninstructions.IfyouareasoundBladeuser,you’llalsoneedtorun‘InstallSonicStudioOptions.mpkg’locatedintheSonicOptionsfolderofyoursoundBladeappfolder,selecting‘SonicMasteringEQ’intheoptionsinstallerdialogbox.
NotethatSonicStudioMasteringEQisiLoklicensed.Whenyoupurchasedthisproduct,youreceivedandActivationCodeandinstallinstructions.Thisdocumentassumesthatyouhaveinstalled your iLok license. SeeAppendix C for more info on installing permanent and triallicenses.
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ToenableaSonicStudioMasteringEQplug-inasaDeskEventinsoundBlade,intheEDLDeskorMeterswindow,select ‘SonicMasteringEQ’ fromthecontextualmenu thatappears. TheSonicStudioMasteringEQwindowwillappear.
Select ‘Sonic Mastering EQ’ from the contextual menu. After selection, the Sonic Studio Mastering EQ window will appear:
1)FrequencyVisualizerScalingindB 2)MasteringEQVisualizer
3)GainFader 4)High-DefinitionMeters5)PeakHoldSettings 6)EqualizerBandswith17uniquefilters7)EQGlobalOn/Off 8)DitherSelectionArea9)EQBandOn/Off 10)Hide/ShowFrequencyandMeters
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8
9
10
10
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1.1.2.1 Frequency Visualizer Scaling in dB
ThismenusetstheverticalscaleofVisualizerwindowindB.Thevaluesare+24,+12,+6,and+3,withthedefaultscaleat+24.
1.1.2.2 Mastering EQ Visualizer
Thisareadisplaysthecurrentfiltersettingsasavisualrepresentation.Eachcolor-codedfilternodecanbedraggedandadjustedfromwithinthiswindow.
1.1.2.3 Gain Fader
Adjuststheoverallgainoftheplug-in.Parametersare+12to+12dB.Optionclickto(re)settozero.
1.1.2.4 High-Definition Meters
TheMeterssectiongraphicallydisplaysreal-timeindicationsofPeak,RMSandVUvalueswithhyper-ballisticaccuracy.Atthetopofthemeterstrips,PeakandRMSvaluesaredisplayedinnumericrelationtozero;-forunderzero,+foroverzero.Boththemeterstripandthenumbersinthissectionwillturnredwhenanover-zerolevelisdetected.
WhenSonicStudioMasteringEQisusedasamonoinstantiation,onlychannelone,ortheleftchannel,willdisplaylevel.
1.1.2.5 Peak Hold Settings
Inthissection,PeakHoldpreferencescanbesettoreflectyourneeds.ThedefaultvalueisonesecondforPeakHoldand100millisecondsforMeterReleasetiming.ThissettingissavedwiththeEQ.
1.1.2.6 Equalizer Bands with 17 Unique Filters
ThebottomlefthalfoftheSonicStudio Mastering EQ windowcontains the master controlsfor each of the four availablefilter bands. The controls arecontext–sensitive and apply tothe selected filter section andchanges are reflected in theMasteringEQVisualizersection.
Clickingonthetoprevealsalisttheavailablefiltertypes:
Filter Selection Menu.
Select your desired filter from the menu to instantiate. Extra control sections will me enabled depending on filter type.
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LEARN: SeeAppendixAbelowforcompletefilterdescriptionsandgraphicalrepresentationsoftheircapabilities.
LEARN:Valuescanbeenteredbykeyboardorbyclick+hold+mouseup/down.
1.1.2.7 EQ Global On/Off
ThisbuttontogglestheSonicMasteringEQonoroffandisusefulforcomparingthesumofallchangesmadewiththisinstanceofEQ.
1.1.2.8 Dither Selection Area
ThissectionselectswhetherditherisenabledonthisinstanceofEQ.ThechoicesareOff,DitherandNoiseShaped.
LEARN:SeeAppendixBbelowforcompleteditherdescriptions.
1.1.2.9 EQ Band On/Off
ThisbuttontogglesindividualbandsofSonicMasteringEQonoroffandisusefulforcomparingthechangeinducedinasinglebandofEQ.
1.1.2.10 Hide/Show Frequency and Meters
Clickingthetoptriangletogglesbetweenhiding/showingtheMeterssection.Clickingthemiddletriangletogglesbetweenhiding/showingtheFrequencysection.Thisisusefulforconservingscreenrealestate.
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Appendix A ................... Sonic Studio Mastering EQ Filter Specifications and Descriptions
Theparametricfiltersareclassic,threeparameterversions,withResonantFrequency,gain,andQ.QorQualityFactorisdefinedastheresonantfrequency,orcenterfrequencyinthecaseofasymmetricalfilter,dividedbythebandwidth.Thebandwidthis,inturn,definedastheoneortwofrequenciesatwhichthefilterresponseis3dBupordownfromunitygain.
Expressing thewidthofafilterasaQualityFactor, rather thanbandwidth,providesamoreintuitivesenseofthefilter’ssubjective“sound,”sincethesamevalueofQwillproducedifferentbandwidthsatdifferentfrequencies.Thehigherthefrequency,thewiderthebandwidthwillbeforagivenQvalue,whichroughlycorrespondstoourauditorymechanism’sabilitytoperceiveafilter’saction.Asanexample,aparametricfilterwithaQof1hasabandwidthof100Hzwhenitscenterfrequencyissetto100Hzbut,ithasabandwidthof1000Hzwhenthecenterfrequencyissetto1000Hz.
Theorderorslopeofthefilteriscontrollable,with1stthrough4thorderor6to24dBperoctaveslope, respectively. Each of the four orders are separate menu choices.The family of curvesshownbelowincludeawideQof0.5,amediumQof2.0andanarrowQof10.
Figure 10.2: 1st order parametric with ƒR of 1000 Hz
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Figure 10.3: 2nd order parametric with ƒR of 1000 Hz
Figure 10.4: 3rd order parametric with ƒR of 1000 Hz
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Figure 10.5: 4th order parametric with ƒR of 1000 Hz
The high and low shelves are also three parameter filters, with Resonant Frequency, gain,andorder.Thefamilyofcurvesbelowinclude1stthrough4thorder.The4thorderresponseispracticallyverticalinthetransitionregion.
Figure 10.6: High shelf with ƒR of 1000 Hz
Thehighandlowpassfiltersalsohavethreeparameters.However,inthiscasestopbandripple,labeledStop,hastakentheplaceofgain.Aswiththeshelvingfilterabove,thefamilyofcurvesbelowinclude1stthrough4thorder.
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Figure 10.7: High pass with ƒR of 1000 Hz
Stopbandrippledescribestheamountofamplitudevariationorrippleinafilter’soutofbandresponse.Indirectly,itdescribestwomoreimportantparameters.Oneisoutofbandsuppressionor,howmuch“leakage”ofunwantedsignalyoureceive,andtheotherisphaseshiftandgroupdelay.
Thestopbandrippleparameterprovidesarangeof-12to-108.Atthe-12setting,only12dBoflosswilloccuroutofband,nomuchforafilterofthistype.However,becausethestopbandripple value is so low, the phase response and resultant temporal response of the filter willbeexcellent.Attheotherextremeofitsrange,stopbandripplewillbe108dBdownfromthe(unity)passbandgainbut, thephaseresponsewillsuffer, thegroupdelaywillbesevereandtheresultingtemporalsmearingmaybeunacceptable.Aswithanyfilter,carefullisteningwilldeterminethetradeoffbetweenstopbandsuppressionandsideeffects.
Figure10.8belowshowsantypical3rdorderhighpassfilter.Superimposedonthatcurveisanother3rdorderhighpasswith6dBofpassbandripple&120dBofstopbandattenuation.Noticetherippling“bouncingball”amplituderesponseintheregionabovetheresonantfrequency.Thispassbandripplewouldcreatesomepossiblyundesirableamplitudeeffectsbut,becausetheripplespechasbeenrelaxed,thephaseresponsewouldbeimproved.
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Figure 10.8: 3rd order high pass with 6 dB of passband ripple & 120 dB of attenuation
Comparetheresponseinfigure10.8withthenextfigure,whichshowsa3rdorderhighpasswith0.10dBofpassbandripple&10dBofstopbandattenuation.Thistime,thestopbandripplewouldallowsomematerialbelowtheresonantfrequencyto“leak”intothefilter’soutput.Againhowever,becausetheripplespechasbeenrelaxed,thephaseresponsewouldbeimproved.
Figure 10.9: 3rd order high pass with 0.1 dB of passband ripple & 10 dB of attenuation
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Thebandpassandbandstopfiltersarestraightforward,threeparameterforms,andthenotchfilterhasonlytwoparametersasthegainisimpliedtobe-∞.Thenexttwofiguresonceagainincludequalityfactors(Q)of0.5,2and10.
Figure 10.10: 1st order bandpass with ƒR of 1000 Hz
Figure 10.11: 3rd order bandpass with ƒR of 1000 Hz
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Figure 10.12: Notch filter with ƒR of 1000 Hz
TheRIAAfiltersprovideemphasis,forcreatingcuttingmastersforlacquer,andde–emphasisforcorrectingmaterialthatisdigitizedflatfrom331/3RPMphonographrecord.Thisapproachmeansthattheexcellent,minimalphasecharacteristicsofthisdigitalRIAAde–emphasisimplementationcanbeusedinplaceofanimpreciseandpotentiallycoloredanalogfilternetworkinaphonopreamplifier.
Figure 10.13: RIAA de–emphasis
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The“Emph”and“DeEmph”selectionarefor44.1kHzAES/EBUaudio.Thede–emphasistypeisquiteusefulwhenarchivalmaterialwasemphasizedduringrecordingbuttheEmphasisflagwasnotset.
TheNoDCtypeisaspecialformofhighpassfilterdesignedforarchivalrecordingsmadewithEIAJadapters,socalled“F1”recorders,whichwereshortlivedconsumerdigitalaudiorecordersmanufacturedbySony,Matsushitaandothers.Theyemployedverysimple,lowcostconvertersandofteninjectedalargeamountofDCoffsetintothesignaltoovercomecrossoverdistortion.ThisfilterwillremovethatDCoffset.Lastly,the“NoDC/DeEmp”typeis,again,aspecialfilterforrecordingsmadewithanEIAJadapterthatbothremovesDCoffsetandappliesde–emphasis.
Figure 10.14: DC reject plus RIAA de–emphasis, the “NoDC/DeEmp”
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Appendix B ..................Sonic Studio Mastering EQ Dither Specifications and Descriptions
Selecting a Dither Type
Ditherisanintentionallyappliedformofnoiseusedtorandomizequantizationerror,preventingaudible artifacts from being induced when calculating sample rate or bit depth changes. Nosingleditherisamagicbullet,sothreedifferentvariationsofditherareavailableinSonicStudioMasteringEQ.
SonicStudioMasteringEQDitherSettings:
Bypass: Disablesalldither,passingallbitsasrendered.
Round(Truncation):Roundstothetargetwordlengthwithoutaddingdither.
Dither(TriangularProbabilityDensityFunction):Shapedtriangulardithercutsthenoiselevelat lowfrequencieswhileboosting itahighfrequencies. Thisresults inthedithernoisebeinglessaudible.Thisshapingorweightingreducestheaudibilityofthenoisetoadegree.Withtriangulardither,theaddednoiselevelisconstantandslightlyhigher.Itisrecommendedforuseonalltypesofmusic.
Noise Shape:Thisdithertypealtersthespectralshapeoftheerrorthatisintroducedbyditheringsuchthatthenoisepowerisatalowerlevelinfrequencybandsatwhichnoiseisperceivedtobemoreundesirableandatacorrespondinglyhigherlevelinbandswhereit isperceivedtobelessundesirable. Sincethisditheris‘packed’atthehigherendofthehearingspectrum,thisshapingorweightingreducestheaudibilityofthenoisetoadegree.Thisditherisrecommendedforgeneraluse.
Note: In general, triangular PDF dither is preferable.That said, LISTEN anddecideforyourself!
Note That witheithertypeofdither,theaddednoiseisverysmallandeachditheroptionactsdifferentlywithdifferenttypesofprogrammaterial.Youshouldexperimentwitheachdithertypetoachievetheresultsthatyoudesire.
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Appendix A ................................. iLok License Installation
AllSonicStudiosoftwareisprotectedwithPACEAnti-Piracy’sInterLokcopyprotection.YourSonicStudioProcesssoftwareisauthorizedwithaniLokUSBSmartKey.
PermanentLicenseInstallation
TodownloadyourSonicStudioLicensestoyouriLok:
1)CopytheActivationCodethatwasdeliveredwithyoursoundBladepurchase.
2)LaunchtheiLok License Managerapplicationandfromthe‘Licenses’menuatthetopofthescreen,select‘RedeemActivationCode’.
3)Inthe‘EnterActivationCode’window,pastetheActivationCodeyoucopiedinsteponeandclickon‘Next’
4)SelecttheActivationLocationanddownloadyoursoundBladelicensetotheiLokofyourchoice.
ToregisteryourSonicStudiosoftwareandiLokUSBSmartKey,visit:
http://www.sonicstudio.com/sonic/reg/sonic_register
TrialLicenseInstallation
Toenableafull-function14-daytrialversion.
1)CopythisActivationcode:
2251-1155-0716-9981-7477-9561-7230-09
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2)LaunchtheiLokLicenseManagerandfromthe‘Licenses’menuatthetopofthescreen,select‘RedeemActivationCode’.
3)Inthe‘EnterActivationCode’window,pastetheActivationCodeyoucopiedinsteponeandclickon‘Next’
4)Select theActivationLocationanddownloadyoursoundBlade license to the iLokofyourchoice.
5)LaunchSonicStudioProcess.
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Sonic Studio Mastering EQ User Manual Index
Symbols1storderbandpass131storderparametric82ndorderparametric83rdorderhighpass11,123rdorderparametric84thorderparametric8
AAudioUnit3,4
CContextualMenu5
DDC15De-emphasis14,15DeskEvent4,5Dither5,7DitherSelectionArea5,7
EEDLDesk4,5Emphasis14,15EQBandOn/Off5,7EQGlobalOn/Off5,6,7Equalizer5EqualizerBands5
FFilter16FilterCurve16
GGainFader5,6
H
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High-DefinitionMeters5,6Highpass11Highshelf10
IiLok4,17,18
LLowpass10
MMasteringEQVisualizer6Meter6Meters6Meterswindow4,5minimal-phase3
NNoDC15NoiseShaped16Notchfilter14
Pparametric8,9,10Parametric8,10,11,13passband11,12Peak5,6PeakHold5,6PeakHoldSettings5,6plug-ins4
latency compensation 4Project
Panel 2
Quality Factor 8QualityFactor8
RRIAA14,15
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Ripple10,11,12RMS5,6Round16
SSlope8snapshotautomation4SonicEQ
Bypass 6Group menu 6parameters 6, 7pre-processor 4Q or Quality Factor 8sections 6stopband ripple 11
Stopband11
TTriangularProbabilityDensityFunction16Truncation16
VVU5,6
©2013SonicStudio,LLC•1340MissionStreet•SanFrancisco.,CA94103•1-415-944-7642
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Comments,correctionsandsuggestionsregardingthismanualarealwayswelcome.Pleasecontactusat<[email protected]>. SonicStudioMasteringEQ_UM_v01r09